A Hellhound in Hollywood

by Amy Armstrong

  When Caleb jutted out his bottom lip, I tried to hide my smile. He always pulled out the pout when he was losing an argument. The lips coupled with his brown, puppy-dog eyes and cute floppy brown hair worked well on a lot of people—particularly women. I’d seen it dozens of times first-hand.

  I, however, wasn’t one of those women.

  “I’m sorry, I really am, but I’ve made up my mind. I owe it to myself to try.”

  Caleb hunched his shoulders. “What am I going to do without you?” There was a stark vulnerability in his voice that I’d never heard in it before, and it gave me pause.

  “You’ll be fine,” I reassured. “The council will find you another partner to team up with.”

  “Yeah, but they won’t be as good as you are.”

  I felt a warm glow surge through me as Caleb’s praise registered. He’d never said anything like that to me before and I appreciated it more than I could vocalize. I put a hand on his shoulder then squeezed it gently. “Thanks, Caleb, that’s really sweet of you to say.”

  He shrugged. “It’s the truth.”

  “Hey, who knows? You might even get paired with the woman of your dreams, then you’ll be thanking me for giving you some space.”

  Caleb’s eyes lit up at the suggestion. “Tell me more about this woman.”

  I laughed. “That’s the spirit. See? Silver lining. Did you speak to Roland before you got here?”

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  A HELLHOUND IN HOLLYWOOD

  86

  I’d talked to our handler after I’d arrived at the hospital the night before to inform him that the job was complete and that we’d recovered the grimoire, which was now in the possession of the angels. I’d also told him what the demon had said about Malaki, and Roland said he’d call as soon as he heard anything.

  “I spoke to him just now, briefly. He sounded flustered and didn’t have much time to talk.”

  “Did you ask about Malaki?”

  He nodded. “Yeah. There’s no news.”

  I pulled my bottom lip between my teeth as a heaviness centered in my chest.

  “I guess no news is good news, right?”

  Caleb’s lack of response was telling. I grabbed my coffee then took a sip and stared at the blank wall opposite us, all the while thinking about the conversation I’d had with Malaki in the church. He’d looked and sounded worn out and I’d sensed that the war was getting to him in more ways than most. He’d intimated that he felt responsible for dragging hunters into the fight and maybe because of that he was taking on too much, working himself into the ground.

  Malaki and I hadn’t ever been bosom buddies, but I’d felt closer to him after our chat. I hoped nothing bad had happened to him. That would suck.

  It had taken Ty five hours to come around after we’d brought him to the hospital, but he’d only been awake for a couple of minutes. The pain meds they’d given him kicked in and knocked him out again, then he’d slept for a couple of hours and sporadically for another couple after that. When he next awoke, he hadn’t been up for much conversation—

  understandably. Mostly, I just sat beside his bed and watched him doze until the nurses came in and threw me out around two that morning.

  The doctor who was treating him told me it was lucky an angel had healed Ty so soon after the attack or he likely wouldn’t have lasted through the night. That news had played on my mind all the way back to the motel, and I’d slept in fits and starts until I finally crawled out of bed at just after seven. Now it was eight-thirty and I’d met the doctor outside Ty’s room just as he was going in to see him, so I hadn’t been able to visit yet. Caleb and I sat together in a comfortable silence for a little while longer then the door to Ty’s room opened and the doctor walked out.

  I stood and greeted him with a hopeful smile.

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  Amy Armstrong

  87

  “How’s he doing?”

  “I’m sure he’ll be doing just fine after you’ve been in to see him,” he said with a wry smile. “I’ve told him he needs to rest for at least another couple of days, but I don’t think he’s used to doing as he’s told. You think you can have a word with him? He lost a lot of blood and his body went through a severe trauma. It will take time to heal properly from all that.”

  I doubted I’d have any more luck than the doctor, but I was happy to try. “I’ll see what I can do. Is it okay to go in now?”

  “Sure. I told him you’re out here. He’s waiting for you.”

  “Thank you, Doctor.”

  I reached out to push open the door, but the doctor called me back. “How are you doing?”

  he asked. “How’s your arm holding up?”

  I’d been trying not to think about it, but as soon as he mentioned it, the burning sensation seemed to return tenfold.

  “I’m doing great,” I lied.

  The doctor nodded. “I’ll get one of the nurses to change your bandages later. You’ll need to keep it clean and dry for at least a week before you can remove them altogether.”

  “Okay. Thanks, Doc.”

  After he left, I turned to address Caleb before going in to see Ty.

  “I might be here for a while. Why don’t you go and hunt down some breakfast and I’ll catch you later? We could get some lunch, if you’d like.”

  Caleb nodded then stood. “I wasn’t having any luck convincing you that you’re making a terrible mistake anyway.” He grinned and, before I could reply, he said, “You’re buying lunch. Catch you later.”

  He turned to leave.

  “I’ll be fine, Caleb,” I told him quickly, halting his retreat. “And so will you.”

  Without waiting for a reply, I pushed open the door to Ty’s room then stepped inside.

  Ty was sitting up in bed and watching the door as I walked in. As soon as his eyes met mine, a warm smile lit up his face.

  My heart stuttered.

  “Been waiting for you,” he said in place of a greeting. “Damn doctor kept me talking.”

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  A HELLHOUND IN HOLLYWOOD

  88

  “Hey.” I walked around the bed then stood at Ty’s side near the window. I studied his face. There was more color in cheeks than there had been the night before. “It might be a good idea if you listened to what said doctor had to say.”

  Ty waved an impatient hand in front of him. “He’s fussing over nothing.”

  “Not nothing, Ty. You could have died,” I reminded him. “You nearly did.” The words were painful to say, but the truth behind them at least reminded me that he was, in fact, alive and would make a full recovery. He’d been lucky. “How are you feeling?”

  “Good.”

  When I opened my mouth to refute his claim, Ty went on, “Honestly, I feel great. That angel mojo does what it says on the tin. But I’ll feel a whole lot better when you get on over here and kiss me.”

  I chuckled, relief taking away the last of my worry and unease. “So then I guess I’d better kiss you.”

  “Damn straight.”

  I leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to his lips, but Ty wasn’t about to be palmed off with a tender kiss. He slid his hands into my hair and gripped it at the back of my head to hold me in place. Without preamble, he deepened the kiss, pushing his tongue into my mouth. A needy moan tore from my throat and I kissed him back, hungry for more.

  “That’s more like it,” he said as he pulled back and regarded my dazed expression.

  I took in a calming breath then sat in the chair beside his bed.

  “I’m glad you’re here. There’s something important I wanted to talk to you about,” Ty said, his voice suddenly serious.

  An uncomfortable sensation settled in the pit of my stomach, and a myriad of unhappy thoughts ran through my mind. Ty had made it clear more than once that he was attracted to me, but he could have changed his mind about wanting to hunt with me. Where would that leave us?

  My mouth bec
ame suddenly parched as I stole myself for his reply.

  “What do you want to talk about?”

  “Your mother.” He stared at me a beat, his gaze roaming over my face as if measuring my reaction.

  I frowned. That was the very last thing I’d expected to come out of his mouth.

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  Amy Armstrong

  89

  “My mother? What about her?”

  “You know,” Ty said, holding my gaze with ease, “I’ve met a few demons during my years as a hunter and I know how cunning they can be—how they play on your fears and insecurities.”

  I squirmed in the seat, uncomfortable with the direction the conversation seemed to be heading in and I opened my mouth to change the subject, but Ty hadn’t finished.

  “I heard what that demon said to you and I need you to know that if you’re worried that you’re not as good a hunter as your mother, you’re wrong.”

  I frowned and turned to stare out of the window. I didn’t want to have that conversation, not then, maybe not ever. “It isn’t…” Yet I couldn’t finish the sentence because I didn’t want to lie to him. I’d always felt that I wasn’t good enough. After all, I’d always wished I could be somehow… more. I might not have wanted Ty to know I felt that way, but I refused to lie to him about it. If we were going to work, then I needed to open up, even though it might be painful to do so.

  “I’ll never be as good as my mother,” I said, almost choking on the words. I didn’t turn to meet Ty’s gaze again, I couldn’t. It had been difficult enough to admit the truth aloud.

  Ty sighed. “Do you remember what I told you about my last run-in with a hellhound a few years before we met?”

  At this curious change in direction, I turned to face Ty. “Yes. You said you got mauled, pretty badly, but that my mother saved you.”

  “She did,” Ty said, nodding. “But she was also the reason I got hurt.”

  I fought to contain the many emotions swirling around inside me as confusion knitted my brow.

  “I don’t understand.”

  “It’s quite simple,” Ty said. “Your mother was a good hunter, one of the best without a doubt, but she wasn’t infallible. When we were hunting that night and we came across the hellhound, it cornered me. Lizzie panicked. She ran.”

  “She…” I shook my head, unable to comprehend what Ty was telling me. My mother would never have run away. She was fearless. She…

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  A HELLHOUND IN HOLLYWOOD

  90

  “It’s true, Alana.” Ty shrugged. “She came back to help me, of course. When she realized I wasn’t behind her, she knew that I hadn’t been able to get away so she came back, fought the hellhound off me. She saved me.”

  “Ty…”

  “The reason I’m telling you this,” he went on, “is because I want you to understand that what made her so great was that she was able to face her fears and overcome them, just like you.”

  “Ty…”

  “So if anyone was to ask me if I think you’re as good a hunter as your mother is, I’d have to say no. I think you’re better than her.”

  A lump formed in my throat and tears stung behind my eyes. I shook my head. “No, I…”

  “Believe it,” Ty said firmly, resolutely. “The situations were almost identical. My life was in danger both times and your mother ran, but you didn’t. You stood your ground and you fought. You fought to save me.”

  I swallowed down the lump and asked, “Why didn’t you tell me any of this before?”

  “Because it wasn’t important,” Ty replied. “She came back, saved me. That’s all that matters. But when I heard what that demon said to you and realized how you felt about your mother and your abilities as a hunter, I figured you needed to know the truth. Don’t ever doubt yourself, Alana, because I don’t.”

  I couldn’t do anything to prevent the tears that escaped my eyes and trickled down my cheeks.

  “Thank you,” I whispered. “I think I needed to hear that. No, I know I needed to hear it.”

  Ty wiped the tears from my face. “Then I’ll tell you how incredible you are every damn day,” he said softly. “Or as often as you need to hear it.” He shook his head. “It’s difficult to believe you could feel that way. You’re one of the best hunters I’ve worked with, and believe me, I’ve worked with my fair share.”

  I sighed. “All my life I’ve compared myself to my mother and felt I was lacking. I never thought I would measure up. I felt… inadequate, I suppose. My mother never had to try hard or train hard. Hunting just came naturally to her. And, well, everyone says she’s the best. It’s a lot to live up to.”

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  Amy Armstrong

  91

  “It is,” he agreed. “But if anyone can live up to those standards, you’ll be the one to do it.

  You know, there’s one thing your mother has that you don’t have yet.”

  “What is it?” I asked, eager for any advice that could help me improve.

  “Experience,” Ty said simply. “Thirty-five years of it. Your mother might have always been good, but she wasn’t always the best. It took time and practice for her to get to the top of the ladder.”

  I stared at him, unblinking. “I never thought of it like that.”

  I couldn’t deny that what Ty had said made sense. I’d been beating myself up over my insecurities and obviously, I needed to give myself a break. The past few days should have taught me that, if nothing else. I’d faced warlocks, vampires, hellhounds and demons and not only was I still around to tell the tale, but I’d faced my fears and triumphed over them. Most hunters could say that they’d killed vampires, but how many could say they’d squared up to a hellhound and lived to tell the tale? How many had vanquished a demon? The crazy thing was that it had only taken a few words from Ty for me to see myself more clearly. That was something I needed to work on.

  “Thank you,” I said again, even though the words didn’t feel like enough. “I mean that.”

  Ty winked. “You’re welcome.” He grabbed his Stetson from the nightstand and shoved it unceremoniously on his head. “Is it time to hit the road yet? I’m itching to get out there and hunt me some vampires with my beautiful, talented and fearless new partner.”

  As laughter bubbled up in my chest, a warm, happy glow flowed through me and I felt more content than I could remember being.

  “Anyone I know?” I quipped. “Because she sounds amazing.”

  A playful grin stretched across Ty’s lips. “She’s the best.”

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  Huntress Chronicles: A Merman in Miami

  Amy Armstrong

  Excerpt

  Chapter One

  When Drew pulled the stake free from the vampire’s chest, the creature let out an ear-piercing wail then fell to the ground in a heap. The chilling sound he made sent shivers slithering down my spine. There was nothing human about the sound—nothing that allowed me to draw comparisons between a living, breathing human being and the damned, undead existence of the vampire I was looking at—nothing that made me feel anything resembling pity for his demise.

  We checked either end of the alleyway to ensure the creature’s screech hadn’t alerted unwelcome attention. Afterward, Drew sought out my gaze and grinned. Excitement flashed in dark blue eyes that appeared black in the moonless night. The sight of his pleasure did funny things to my stomach. Maybe it should have bothered me the way he derived such joy from killing vampires, but the truth was—I enjoyed the job every bit as much as he did. Though I suppose it wasn’t merely a job—it was a calling. Drew and I had both been born into a long line of vampire hunters and the need to kill the undead creatures and send them back to their maker was as natural to us as breathing.

  Vampires were evil, soulless beings that preyed on those weaker than them. They thought nothing of spilling blood and taki
ng lives. It made me proud that there were a lot fewer of them on Earth because of people like Drew and me—hunters who had been trained to kill them—all for the protection of humans who weren’t even aware of their existence.

  Drew’s gaze flitted back to the creature and he watched the vampire’s body degrade, aging before his eyes. In just a few minutes more, nothing would remain but a large pile of ash.

  While Drew’s attention was on the vampire, I studied Drew. He wore his usual hunting gear—

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  jeans and black T-shirt with a black leather jacket that fit snuggly over his biceps and broad shoulders. The heat could be stifling in Texas in midsummer, but Drew was rarely without that jacket. He liked to keep stakes in the inside pocket and the gun he always carried he tucked into the waistband at the back of his jeans. Drew moved with the fluid grace of a gymnast and had the body to match. I tried not to drool, but I’m not sure I was successful.

  He nodded to the vampire’s body. “I think that’s four to your three.”

  “You think?”

  Drew chuckled, reached into the front pocket of his jeans and produced a handkerchief.

  He used it to wipe the blood off the tip of his stake. He was meticulous in his actions, taking great care to ensure it was spotless before putting both the stake and the handkerchief into the inside pocket of his jacket.

  “All right, I don’t think. I know. That’s four to your three. You’re slacking, Mia.”

  “Technically, I staked that last vamp before you,” I reasoned. “So that one should belong to me, or at the very least he should count for both of us.”

  “You missed his heart.” Drew shot me a mock, outraged expression. “That one’s mine.

  No cheating.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Whatever, oh strong and powerful vampire hunter. If it means that much to you, I’ll let you have him.”

  A slow, easy smile spread across Drew’s face. It was an open smile with plenty of gleaming white teeth and the expression made it all the way to his eyes. There was always so much joy behind his smiles, so much passion. I’d seen Drew’s smile hundreds, if not thousands of times before, yet each time it caused my heart to beat faster. Everything about him got my pulse racing, in fact. His dark, wavy hair always looked like he’d just climbed out of bed and left it that way. Some people might call it messy, but to me it was sexy and added to his rugged charm. Drew stood a few inches taller than my five-foot-eight frame and his body was lean and muscular, much like my own. We were both Texan natives and we loved the outdoor life so his skin, like mine, had a deep, permanent tan, only on him it was more of a glow—